Nigeria Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed has said there is an increasing wave of fake news and disinformation, especially in the social media space.
Mohammed who made this known on Tuesday said the opposition is using fake news to undermine the elections.
He said fake news and disinformation constitute a potent threat to the elections because they are capable of hampering its success.
”I can say, unequivocally, that there has been a worrisome and astronomical increase in the use of fake news and disinformation, making this a clear and present danger to the success of the elections. This increase is undoubtedly the work of some destabilizing agents, some of them linked to the opposition.
”Their sole aim is to destabilize the electoral process and plunge the nation into crisis,” he added.
He reiterated that the Buhari-led government will not allow some miscreants with access to phones and data to destabilize the country.
He warned purveyors of fake news and disinformation to desist, adding that the government is looking for the best options to ensure that the agents of destabilization do not thwart the success of the elections with their unscrupulous resort to fake news and disinformation.
